Mind Mint: Check your intention.

As students, we could feel the difference between a teacher who was passionate about our learning and one who was just punching the clock.
 
When we’re at a restaurant, we know when a waitperson cares about our experience and when they’re just trying to get through a shift.
 
As audience members, we can tell if a speaker or performer is committed to giving us something of value or if they’re just in it for their own ego.
 
These examples – and we could each list many more – speak to the central role that intentions play in our effectiveness. Take the (overused, I know) example of Bruce Springsteen. His secret sauce isn’t his voice, guitar playing, or songwriting; it’s his steadfast commitment to giving the audience a transformative experience at every performance.
 
It’s easy to lose sight of our intentions as we rush from one activity to the next. I find that it helps to pause for a second to ask ourselves why we’re there. By reconnecting with our motivation, we tap into the positive energy that helps us create meaningful, helpful interactions with others.